Calendar watch movement

ABSTRACT

A calendar watch movement comprising a date-of-the-month indicator and a day-of-the-week indicator and also a time-setting and rapid correction mechanism. A control stem is radially located with respect to the movement and is capable of assuming several positions along its axis. A clutch pinion is positioned on a square of the stem. There are control components which are capable of moving the clutch pinion along the stem under the influence of the latter&#39;&#39;s axial displacement between two of said positions, and transmission means for transmitting rotational motion from the clutch pinion to the indicators. The transmission means comprises a transmission pinion coaxial with the stem which, in one of said positions, ensures at least an unidirectional linkage between clutch pinion and date-of-themonth indicator alone and which, in the other of said positions, ensures linkage between the clutch pinion and at least the dayof-the-week indicator. The stem further offers a third axial position in which the clutch pinion, engages the time settingwheel but does not engage said indicators, and a fourth position in which the clutch pinion also does not actuate said indicators.

United States Patent Schneider (451 Sept. 26, 1972 CALENDAR WATCH MOVEMENT [72] inventor: Jean-Claude Schneider, La Chauxde-Fonds, Switzerland [73] Assignee: Fabrique d'horlogerie Chis. Tissot et iils S.A., LeLocle, Switzerland [22] Filed: Dec. 20, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 209,523

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 23, i970 Switzerland ..l9l39/70 [52] US. Cl. ..58/58 [5|] Int. Cl. ..G04b 19/24 [58] Field of Search ..58/4, 5, 58, 63

[ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,470,687 l0/l969 Ono et al ..58/58 3,537,255 ll/l970 Schneider ..58/58 Primary Examiner--Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-George H. Miller, Jr. Attorney-Richard K. Stevens et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A calendar watch movement comprising a date-of-themonth indicator and a day-of-the-week indicator and also a time-setting and rapid correction mechanism. A control stem is radially located with respect to the movement and is capable of assuming several positions along its axis. A clutch pinion is positioned on a square of the stem. There are control components which are capable of moving the clutch pinion along the stem under the influence of the latter's axial dis placement between two of said positions, and transmission means for transmitting rotational motion from the clutch pinion to the indicators. The transmission means comprises a transmission pinion coaxial with the stem which, in one of said positions, ensures at least an unidirectional linkage between clutch pinion and date-of-the-month indicator alone and which, in the other of said positions, ensures linkage between the clutch pinion and at least the day-of-the-week indicator. The stem further offers a third axial position in which the clutch pinion, engages the time settingwheel but does not engage said indicators, and a fourth position in which the clutch pinion also does not actuate said indicators.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED SEP 2 6 I972 SHEET 2 OF 4 FIG. 3

PAIENTEDsms m2 SHEET 3 BF 4 FIG. 4

PATENTEDsEns I972 SHEET t Of 4 Fla-5 20372878 19 30 1 CALENDAR WATCH MOVEMENT It is known that mechanical or electrical watch movements with calendar arrangements that are driven by the movement and that indicate either the date-ofthe-month alone or date and the day of the week, must be provided with a correction mechanism allowing to set the calendar indicator(s) in the required position when the watch is started or after checking. This correction mechanism is also made use of at the end of those months having fewer than 3] days in order to skip the 31st day or, as necessary, the 30th and 29th, so that the calendar indication remains at the proper date. Numerous correction mechanisms allowing rapid adjustment of the calendar indicators without necessitating hands displacement are known. Some of these known mechanisms make use of the time-setting stem which is then placed into a correcting position or else is actuated in the direction of its axis as if it were a push-button.

Thus calendar watches are known in particular, which indicate the date and the day of the week, and which have a winding and time-setting stem provided with a third axial position in which it drives the date indicator when being moved in the other direction. In those known watches, the winder stem carries a clutch pinion which engages a reverse time-setting for the two correcting positions and the time-setting of the stem. Means for transmitting rotational motion from the clutch pinion to the indicators comprise a rocker system upon which are fastened diverse setting wheels. Besides being complicated, this mechanism also suffers from a drawback when being started. Indeed, when the stem is in the correcting position, one must be careful, when imparting to it a rotational motion, to make it rotate in the proper direction in order to correct the indicator one wishes to move, and not to drive it in the opposite direction if only one indicator is to be moved.

Further, calendar watches are known indicating the date and the day of the week, in which the date indicator is driven by the day indicator which has 28 teeth, the driving mechanism being provided with a gear ratio of 28/31. In order to set date and day with a device of this kind, the two indicators may be moved simultaneously by means of the winder stem into the time-setting position. On the other hand, the date indicator may be freed from the day indicator and be rotated alone by means of a transmission pinion fixed to the stem, the latter then being in a correcting position which is different from time-setting position and from the winding position. However, this known mechanism does not permit rapid correction of the day-of-the-week indicator.

The purpose of this invention is to realize a correcting mechanism which is simple, compact, and allows to correct rapidly and separately the date ring and the day disc while avoiding any possibility of error in the handling of the winder stem.

To that end, the object of this invention is a calendar watch movement comprising a date indicator and a day indicator as well as a time-setting mechanism which may be rapidly corrected, this mechanism comprising a control stem axially located with respect to the movement and capable of assuming several positions along its axis, a sliding pinion which may move on a square of the stem, control components that may move the clutch pinion along the stem in reaction to the stem's axial motion between two of said positions, and means for transmitting rotating motion from the clutch pinion to the indicators, characterized by said transmission means comprising a transmission pinion coaxial with the stem which, in one of said positions, ensures at least unidirectional linkage between clutch pinion and date indicator alone and which, in the other of said positions, ensures linkage between the clutch pinion and at least the day indicator, the stem further offering a third axial position in which the clutch pinion, engaging a time setting wheel, does not actuate said indicators, and a fourth position in which the sliding pinion also does not actuate said indicators.

The attached drawing illustrates one kind of execution of the mechanism according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a calendar watch movement with mechanical drive, where the dial has been removed,

FIG. 2 is a partial section of a top view and at a greater scale, of the time-setting and correcting mechanism of the movement of FIG. 1, showing the draw stern and the transmission pinion in two different axial positions,

FIG. 3 is a partial section of the mechanism of FIG. 2 in a plane passing through the stem axis,

FIG. 4 is a top view analogous to FIG. 2, showing the stern in a third inward position,

FIG. 5 is a section similar to FIG. 3, showing the mechanism in the position of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a top view similar to that of FIGS. 2 and 4, showing the stem in its outward position.

FIG. 1 shows plate 1 of a mechanically driven watch movement provided with a stem 2 for rewinding and time-setting. A date ring 3 with inward toothing 4 and a day ring 5 with an outward toothing are located on the plate 1. Details concerning the driving mechanism for rings 3 and 5 are beyond the scope of this invention and will not be described herein. Nevertheless, for the sake of comprehensibility of the following explanations, let it be observed that the two rings 3 and 5 are slightly eccentric with respect to each other so that their toothings 4 and 6 engage one another in the 3 hour zone and so that they stay engaged under the influence of a wire spring 9 located in the hollow of a bridge la and actuating the date ring 3. One should note that the time-setting and correcting mechanism to be described below may very well be embodied into a watch with a different calendar device.

FIG. 2 shows stem 2 radially arranged with respect to the movement and of which the inward end 10 is inserted in a radial opening 11 (FIG. 3) of plate 1. Besides stem 2, the time-setting and correcting mechanism comprises a setting lever 12 provided with a rotation stud 13, a setting lever spring 14 of which a rigid arm 14a covers setting lever 12 and of which an elastic arm 15 ensures four different setting lever orientations around its stud 13, a rocker l6 pivoting around stud 17 which is axially held in place by the setting lever spring 14, a clutch pinion 18 which may glide on a square 19 of stem 2, and a transmission pinion 20 loosely fastened to stem 2. Rocker I6 is biased by lever spring 21 which tends to make it rotate in the counter clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 2, and its end is engaged in the groove of clutch pinion 18. Generally,

these components are so shaped as to be able to fill their customary functions.

FIG. 3 again shows day indicator 5 comprising an annular plate 50 with the names 8 of the days and an internal annular plate 5b showing toothing 6 at its periphery. Indicator 5 follows around a part 22 of the date bridge 22a. The indicator is slightly eccentric with respect to the movement, as seen in FIG. 1. In regard to date indicator 3, one sees in FIG. 3 that part of its toothing 4 which engages toothing 6. Ring 3 is provided with an annular protrusion 23 on its lower face, the protrusion being provided with an internal toothing 24 which is supposed to function together with the transmission pinion 20. Dial 25 is provided with a first window through which one may see indications 8 on the annular plate 50 and with a second window 27, of lesser size, through which one may see the dates 7 on ring 3.

The watch shown in the drawing being mechanical, its movement is provided with a crown-wheel 28 at the upper part of the movement underneath bridge 29 and which pivots around stud 30 mounted in this bridge. This crown-wheel 28 may mesh with transmission pinion 20 in such fashion as to ensure rewinding. Finally, the reverse time-setting wheel 31 (FIG. 3) pivots on a boss 32 of the plate so as to be rotated by the axial toothing of the clutch pinion 18.

These diverse elements of the time-setting and correcting mechanism are also shown in the drawings other figures, showing the various positions those elements may occupy and explaining the functions which are being filled there.

The explanation begins with the rewinding position shown in solid lines in FIGS. 2 and 3. Stem 2 in that position naturally occupies its extreme inward position. As shown in FIG. 2, the pin 33 mounted in the setting lever may function together with the latters spring, and pushes against the external side of the protrusion 34 machined at the end of arm 15. The pin is also maintained by the external arm 14a of the setting lever spring stretching to the vicinity of arms end. The setting lever beak 35 is rather far from the notch 36 in lever 16, the latter being wholly free from the setting lever. Therefore lever 16 biases the clutch pinion 18 towards the exterior, the lever itself being under the influence of its spring 21. The Breguet toothing 37 of clutch pinion 18 engages the corresponding Breguet toothing of transmission 20, the latter being axially retained by flange 38 of stem 2. The external side of this flange has the shape of a frustum of a cone which at the same time represents the internal face of the groove into which is inserted the stud of setting lever 39, whereas the internal face of flange 38, which is also a cone frustum, is inserted in a countersunk shape of pinion 20. Thus this pinion is axially maintained by flange 38 and kept engaged with clutch pinion 18. Its axial position is detennined by protrusion 34 of the setting lever spring and it is so adjusted that the peripheral toothing of pinion engages that of crownwheel 28. In that position, a rotation imparted to stem 2 will drive pinion 20 and hence will ensure rewinding by means of wheel 28. The time setting wheel 31, also the indicators 3 and 5, in that case have entirely disengaged from the time-setting and correcting mechanism.

If, starting from the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, stem 2 is moved towards the exterior, then the setting lever pivots round its stud I3 and pin 33 passes above protrusion 34. Without stopping at the position shown by mixed lines in FIG. 2 and about which more will be said later, the setting lever goes on pivoting and pin 33 glides along the inclined plane 40 so as to reach the slot 41 (FIGS. 4 and 5). During this motion, lever 16, which never engages setting lever 12, pivots in counter clockwise fashion as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, so that clutch pinion 18 moves towards the exterior together with the stem, keeping pinion 20 pressed against flange 38 and staying engaged to it. By comparing FIGS. 2 and 4, one will note that the lower arm 42 of the draw-stem progressively engages behind the toothing of pinion 20 during that motion. The following effects take place due to the motion of the transmission pinion 20, as seen by comparing FIGS. 3 and 5: pinion 20, which was engaged with crown-wheel 28 in the position shown by FIG. 3, disengages from that wheel and meshes with toothing 24 of ring 3 when reaching the position shown by mixed marks in FIG. 3, yet without stopping there, continuing to move towards the outer translationally driving ring 3 so as to disengage ring 5 which remains centered on portion 22. During the latter motion, spring 9 tensions under the influence of ring 3s motion. The position which is reached (FIG. 4) is the second outward position (the first one having been skipped) and it may be observed that in this position, rotation imparted to the stern drives transmission pinion 20 by means of the clutch pinion. Consequently ring 3 rotates alone. This position therefore is the correcting position for the date alone. Pinion 20 directly engages ring 3, so that it either moves in one direction or else remains stationary, according to the direction of rotation of the stem.

FIG. 6 shows the position obtained when the stem is wholly pulled out towards the exterior. Pin 33 has passed above beak 43 of setting lever spring and reaches the incline beyond the beak. During this motion, beak 35 penetrates to the bottom of the slot 36 and displaces the rocker horizontally, so that the sliding pinion glides upon the stems square and by its axial toothing engages the reverse time-setting wheel 31. The latter motion corresponds to the usual one undertaken for bringing a mechanism to the time-setting position. Whereas customarily the rewinding pinion, the role of which is here assumed by pinion 20, is maintained in its axial position by the two sides of a notch in the plate, (here) it is retained by one of the sides of notch 44 and by arm 42 of draw-stem 12, the latter's end inserting itself behind the pinion and locking it.

The displacement experienced by pinion 20 between the positions of FIGS. 4 and 6 is fairly small. Because of arm 42, this pinion is locked into the time-setting position and maintains indicator 3 in a free position. The hands may therefore be rotated and by means of the calendar driving mechanism, one may also actuate the day indicator.

When by moving the stem inwards towards its rewinding position, the mechanism tirst passes again the second outward position shown in FIG. 4 and in solid lines in FIG. 5. This position was described as being that allowing correction of the date alone. A new push upon the stem results in pin 33 reaching slope 40 and the mechanism stops in the position shown by mixed marks in FIGS. 2 and 3, pin 33 being below protrusion 34. In this position, shown by mixed marks in FIG. 3, transmission pinion 20 still engages toothing 24 of date ring 3, but the latter (already) has moved under the influence of spring 9 and resumed its meshing position with toothing 6 of ring 5. Stem rotation in one direction results in simultaneous motion of two indicators whereas rotation in the other leaves them stationary.

The mechanism which has been described comprises no more parts than a customary rewinding and timesetting mechanism. Though it was described here in a utilization mode relating to a mechanically rewound calendar watch, it may equally well be used in an electrical watch. in that case, the crown-wheel would be eliminated and the inward stem position would be disengaged or neutral and without any role.

Because of the means foreseen to initiate axial displacements of the transmission pinion when the stem passes from the inward position to the third outward position, it is feasible to use this pinion for three different functions: driving the crown-wheel, driving the two calendar indicators, and driving the date indicator alone. Further, when in the time-setting position, pinion 20 is free from flange 38 but locked by arm 42. [n a simpler mechanism, the axial displacement of pinion 20 might be limited to two positions only, this pinion then serving only two different functions. However, when used in a watch movement where the date ring may be disconnected from the day ring by translational motion, this pinion allows a correcting position for the date alone and (also) a correcting position for the indicators of date and day, these two positions being clearly different.

The main advantage of the described mechanism rests in the fact it permits the desired functions by means of the winder stern without incurring the risk of making errors. The inward position of the winder stem is the rewinding position or, in an electrical watch, the neutral position. Starting from this position and pulling the stem outwards, it will normally be brought to the position of the date alone, skipping the correcting position of the date ring and the day indicator. Rotation imparted to the stern in one direction swiftly moves the date ring in the corresponding direction without jeopardy of perturbing the driving mechanism of this ring. Pulling the stem further into its last outward position, the mechanism is brought into the time-setting position and by pushing the stem back inwards, it is first brought to a position simultaneously driving the two calendar indicators, and, finally, to the rewinding or neutral position. Thus, even though the stem does offer four different axial positions, a single intermediate position (only) is perceptible in practice when this stem is moved in the axial direction.

I claim:

1. A calendar watch movement comprising a date-ofthe-month indicator and a day-of-the-week indicator and also a time-setting and rapid correction mechanism, this mechanism comprising a control stem radially located with respect to the movement and capable of assuming several positions along its axis, a clutch pinion on a square of the stem, control components capable of moving the clutch pinion along the stem under the influence of the latters axial displacement between two of said positions, and transmission means for rotational motion from the clutch pinion to the indicators, characterized in that said transmission means comprise a transmission pinion coaxial with the stern which, in one of said positions, ensures at least an unidirectional linkage between clutch pinion and dateof-the-month indicator alone and which, in the other of said positions, ensures linkage between the clutch pinion and at least the day-of-the-week indicator, the stem further offering a third axial position in which the clutch pinion, engaging the time setting-wheel does not engage said indicators, and a fourth position in which the clutch pinion also does not actuate said indicators.

2. Watch movement according to claim 1, thus characterized that said control components comprise a setting lever and a lever functioning together at least when a stem displacement occurs between two of said positions, the setting lever further being so made as to displace the transmission pinion when passing from one of its positions to another.

3. Watch movement according to claim 1, thus characterized that the transmission pinion and the clutch pinion are provided with corresponding Breguet teeth so as to ensure unidirectional driving of the clutch pinion by the transmission pinion.

4. Watch movement according to claim 1, thus characterized that said fourth position of the stem is the inward position, that the position in which the clutch pinion engages the time-setting wheel is the outward position and that said control means are so adjusted that a stem displacement starting from at least one of those extreme positions normally extends into the intermediate position farthest from this extreme position.

5. Watch movement according to claim 4, in which the indicators are made up of two coplanar hypocyclic rings nonnally engaging one another and whereby the transmission pinion directly meshes with the toothing of the external ring, this ring being the indicator of the date-of-the-month, thus characterized that in one of said intermediate positions, the transmission pinion keeps the date-of-the-month ring free from the day-ofthe-week ring, whereas in the other intermediate position the two rings engage one another.

6. Watch movement according to claim 4, thus characterized that the setting lever spring comprises an elastic arm with a four-notch head so as to determine the four axial setting lever positions and the four of the winder stem, that the beaks with which the setting lever spring is provided between said notches are of unequal heights and of asymmetric shapes so that the mechanism skips a position when the stem is moved in one direction but stops there when moved in the other.

7. Watch movement according to claim 6, thus characterized that the lever biased by a lever spring may move round its pivot by causing the clutch pinion to glide on a square of its stem in such fashion as to keep said pinion engaged with the transmission pinion when there is a stem displacement accompanied by an axial displacement of of the transmission pinion.

8. Watch movement according to claim 6, thus characterized that the setting lever is fashioned in such manner as to displace the lever only when there is stem motion between the outward position of time-setting and the intermediate position nearest to the timesetting position.

9. Watch movement according to claim 6, thus characterized that the stem is provided with a flange capable of engaging the transmission pinion so as to move it axially outward together with the winder stem, at least when the latter moves between two of said positions. 

1. A calendar watch movement comprising a date-of-the-month indicator and a day-of-the-week indicator and also a time-setting and rapid correction mechanism, this mechanism comprising a control stem radially located with respect to the movement and capable of assuming several positions along its axis, a clutch pinion on a square of the stem, control components capable of moving the clutch pinion along the stem under the influence of the latter''s axial displacement between two of said positions, and transmission means for rotational motion from the clutch pinion to the indicators, characterized in that said transmission means comprise a transmission pinion coaxial with the stem which, in one of said positions, ensures at least an unidirectional linkage between clutch pinion and date-of-the-month indicator alone and which, in the other of said positions, ensures linkage between the clutch pinion and at least the day-of-the-week indicator, the stem further offering a third axial position in which the clutch pinion, engaging the time setting-wheel does not engage said indicators, and a fourth position in which the clutch pinion also does not actuate said indicators.
 2. Watch movement according to claim 1, thus characterized that said control components comprise a setting lever and a lever functioning together at least when a stem displacement occurs between two of said positions, the setting lever further being so made as to displace the transmission pinion when passing from one of its positions to another.
 3. Watch movement according to claim 1, thus characterized that the transmission pinion and the clutch pinion are provided with corresponding Breguet teeth so as to ensure unidirectional driving of the clutch pinion by the transmission pinion.
 4. Watch movement according to claim 1, thus characterized That said fourth position of the stem is the inward position, that the position in which the clutch pinion engages the time-setting wheel is the outward position and that said control means are so adjusted that a stem displacement starting from at least one of those extreme positions normally extends into the intermediate position farthest from this extreme position.
 5. Watch movement according to claim 4, in which the indicators are made up of two coplanar hypocyclic rings normally engaging one another and whereby the transmission pinion directly meshes with the toothing of the external ring, this ring being the indicator of the date-of-the-month, thus characterized that in one of said intermediate positions, the transmission pinion keeps the date-of-the-month ring free from the day-of-the-week ring, whereas in the other intermediate position the two rings engage one another.
 6. Watch movement according to claim 4, thus characterized that the setting lever spring comprises an elastic arm with a four-notch head so as to determine the four axial setting lever positions and the four of the winder stem, that the beaks with which the setting lever spring is provided between said notches are of unequal heights and of asymmetric shapes so that the mechanism skips a position when the stem is moved in one direction but stops there when moved in the other.
 7. Watch movement according to claim 6, thus characterized that the lever biased by a lever spring may move round its pivot by causing the clutch pinion to glide on a square of its stem in such fashion as to keep said pinion engaged with the transmission pinion when there is a stem displacement accompanied by an axial displacement of of the transmission pinion.
 8. Watch movement according to claim 6, thus characterized that the setting lever is fashioned in such manner as to displace the lever only when there is stem motion between the outward position of time-setting and the intermediate position nearest to the time-setting position.
 9. Watch movement according to claim 6, thus characterized that the stem is provided with a flange located outside the transmission pinion and capable of moving said pinion inwards when the stem is moved in that direction.
 10. Watch movement according to claim 9, thus characterized that the setting lever comprises an arm capable of engaging the transmission pinion so as to move it axially outward together with the winder stem, at least when the latter moves between two of said positions. 